Spiritual Formation

In the summer of 2020 we began taking a deep dive into the area of Spiritual Formation practices. There is so much information available that it can be hard to find specific principles we’ve discussed so far, much less remember all the details. Hopefully the following will help.

Below are lists of spiritual formation practices, as curated by various authors. No list is completely comprehensive, and there is a lot of overlap. Items from the lists below will link to separate pages with details about each practice, but until then we hope the lists alone will be helpful as reminders of the myriad of options open to us as we spend time with God.

These are meant to help us, not to serve as formulas or requirements. Just as Jesus told the Pharisees, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:23-27), the concept behind these practices is to help us to worship, as a means to an end which is intimacy with God. If a particular practice does not work for you, causes frustration, or otherwise impedes your time with God, there is no need to dwell on that particular practice. At some point later you might wish to stretch yourself into the the ones that are more difficult for you, but that comes after you find the ones that are the most useful in your walk with God.

NOTE: This is a project that will remain under construction for a while, but new content should be available weekly. Various lists and collections will be offered, from a variety of sources. Last update: 09-26-2020

Source #1: Adele Ahlberg Calhoun’s List from Spiritual Disciplines Handbook:

Notice Calhoun’s intentional use of the acronym “WORSHIP” to form the first letter of each heading.

Worship

  1. Celebration
  2. Gratitude
  3. Holy Communion
  4. Rule of Life|Rule for Life
  5. Sabbath
  6. Visio Divina
  7. Worship

Open Myself to God

  1. Contemplation
  2. Awareness Review – Examen – Examination of Conscience
  3. Iconography
  4. Journaling
  5. Pilgrimage
  6. Practicing the Presence
  7. Rest
  8. Retreat
  9. Self-Care
  10. Simplicity
  11. Slowing
  12. Teachability
  13. Unplugging

Relinquish the False Self

  1. Confession and Self-Examination
  2. Detachment
  3. Discernment
  4. Mindfulness and Attentiveness
  5. Secrecy
  6. Silence
  7. Sobriety
  8. Solitude
  9. Spiritual Direction
  10. Submission
  11. Waiting

Share My Life with Others

  1. Accountability Partner
  2. Chastity
  3. Community
  4. Covenant Group
  5. Discipling
  6. Face-to-Face Connection
  7. Hospitality
  8. Mentoring
  9. Service
  10. Small Group
  11. Spiritual Friendship
  12. Unity
  13. Witness

Hear God’s Word

  1. Bible Study  
  2. Lectio Divina and Devotional Reading
  3. Meditation  
  4. Memorization  

Incarnate the Word of Christ

  1. Blessing Others/Encouragement  
  2. Care of the Earth  
  3. Compassion  
  4. Control of the Tongue  
  5. Forgiveness  
  6. Humility  
  7. Justice  
  8. Solidarity in Jesus’ Sufferings  
  9. Stewardship  
  10. Truth Telling  

Pray 

  1. Breath Prayer  
  2. Centering Prayer  
  3. Contemplative Prayer  
  4. Conversational Prayer  
  5. Fasting  
  6. Fixed-Hour Prayer  
  7. Inner-Healing Prayer  
  8. Intercessory Prayer  
  9. Labyrinth Prayer  
  10. Listening Prayer  
  11. Liturgical Prayer  
  12. Prayer of Lament  
  13. Prayer Partners  
  14. Praying Scripture  
  15. Prayer of Recollection  
  16. Prayer Walking  
  17. Welcoming Prayer  

Source #2: Richard Foster’s List from Celebration of Discipline:

The Inward Disciplines

  1. Meditation
  2. Prayer
  3. Fasting
  4. Bible Study

The Outward Disciplines

  1. Simplicity
  2. Solitude
  3. Submission
  4. Service

The Corporate Disciplines

  1. Confession
  2. Worship
  3. Guidance
  4. Celebration

Source #3: Adapted from Robert Mulholland’s Invitation to a Journey

Prayer: Relationship building

  1. Individual oriented
  2. In community

Spiritual Reading: Lectio Divina

  1. Silence (Silencio) (Solitude)
  2. Reading (Lectio)
  3. Meditation (Meditato)
  4. Response (Oratio)
  5. Contemplation (contemplatio)

Spiritual Guidance

  1. Incarnation (Incarnatio)
  2. Service
  3. Simplicity
  4. Submission

Liturgy: Work of the People

  1. Worship (Individual; Corporate)
  2. Daily Devotions (Daily Office; Discipleship; Confession)
  3. Study (Informational Reading)
  4. Fasting
  5. Retreat (Solitude)
  6. Celebration

Source #4: Odyssey in Christ

  1. Safe Place Prayer
  2. Prayer of Blessing (see also Blessing Others/Encouragement)

Weekly Schedule:

Adult Discipleship Class:
Sundays @ 10am
Worship Service:
Sundays @ 11am
Midweek Encounter:
1st & 3rd Wednesdays @ 6:30pm*
Theology Discussion Group
Thursdays at 1pm*
International Prayer and Practices Discussion Fridays at 7 am*

*online only

OUR ADDRESS:

Hope Community Church
5204 South Colony Blvd
Suite 200
The Colony, TX 75056

Office Phone Number:

(469) 794-0100